How I Made Partner: ‘Pay Attention to Everything,’ Says Susan Sieger-Grimm of Brown Rudnick
New York, NY – August 22, 2025 – Susan Sieger-Grimm, a newly promoted partner at Brown Rudnick LLP, recently shared insights into her journey to partnership in the firm’s Bankruptcy and Corporate Restructuring Practice Group. Elevated to partner effective February 1, 2025, Sieger-Grimm emphasized the importance of meticulous attention to detail and leveraging unique strengths in a competitive legal landscape. Her story, featured in a Law.com “How I Made Partner” profile, offers valuable lessons for aspiring attorneys navigating Big Law.
A Non-Traditional Path to Partnership
Sieger-Grimm’s career trajectory is far from conventional. After starting as a restructuring associate at Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP and later Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, she took a hiatus to raise her children and serve as a special education advocate for children with disabilities. During this time, she maintained her legal expertise by co-authoring updates to prominent treatises, including The Law of Fraudulent Transactions and The Law of Suretyship and Guaranty (Thomson Reuters, 2022) and The Commercial Law of Intellectual Property (Wolters Kluwer, 2019). Her academic contributions, combined with her practical experience, positioned her as a standout candidate when she re-entered the legal field through Brown Rudnick’s participation in the OnRamp Fellowship, a re-entry platform for lawyers returning after career breaks.
Joining Brown Rudnick as an associate in December 2019, Sieger-Grimm quickly proved her value. “I’m looking forward to reentering the legal field and joining the Brown Rudnick office in New York,” she said at the time, noting the firm’s “expansive reach and impressive multi-disciplinary and cross-jurisdictional Bankruptcy and Corporate Restructuring Group” as ideal for growing her practice. Her promotion to partner in 2025, alongside colleagues Morgan Jones, Sorell Negro, Dean Ramanathan, and Robert Ruh, reflects her ability to combine intellectual rigor with practical advocacy.
Key to Success: ‘Pay Attention to Everything’
In her Law.com interview, Sieger-Grimm stressed the importance of being observant and adaptable. “Pay attention to everything,” she advised, emphasizing that success in Big Law requires understanding not just legal technicalities but also client needs, firm dynamics, and industry trends. Her work representing creditors in complex Chapter 11 cases, such as those of Kidde-Fenwal, Inc. and LTL Management, LLC (Johnson & Johnson’s talc liability entity), demonstrates her ability to navigate high-stakes bankruptcy proceedings. Her role as co-author of well-regarded treatises further underscores her attention to detail, as she analyzes intricate areas like fraudulent transactions and suretyship law.
Sieger-Grimm’s advice echoes sentiments from other Brown Rudnick partners featured in the “How I Made Partner” series. For instance, Gerard Cicero, promoted in 2023, highlighted the value of watching successful colleagues and incorporating their strategies, while Shari Dwoskin, elevated in 2022, emphasized teamwork and authenticity. Sieger-Grimm’s unique contribution lies in her blend of academic and practical expertise, honed during her time away from practice, which she credits for sharpening her perspective.
Navigating Challenges in Big Law
Sieger-Grimm’s journey highlights broader challenges in Big Law, particularly for lateral hires and those re-entering the profession. Brown Rudnick’s commitment to mentorship and transparent elevation criteria, as noted in a Chambers Associate profile, likely aided her ascent. The firm pairs associates with partner and associate advisors and offers peer-led mentoring circles, fostering a supportive environment. However, the legal industry’s vetting processes for lateral hires remain inconsistent, as seen in recent controversies like Mayer Brown’s termination of a partner over social media posts. Sieger-Grimm’s success suggests that firms like Brown Rudnick, which prioritize integration and development, can effectively support non-traditional candidates.
Her background as a special education advocate also informs her approach. “My experience outside the law taught me resilience and the importance of listening to clients’ needs,” she noted, a skill that has proven invaluable in representing Official Committees of Unsecured Creditors and Talc Claimants in high-profile cases.
Advice for Aspiring Partners
Sieger-Grimm’s advice to young lawyers is practical yet profound: “Know your strengths, stay curious, and build relationships.” She encourages associates to seek meaningful work that aligns with their passions, a sentiment echoed by Brown Rudnick partner Sorell Negro, who advised knowing “why you are working so hard” in a 2025 Law.com profile. For Sieger-Grimm, her passion for bankruptcy law and her ability to adapt to the firm’s collaborative culture were key to her promotion.
As Brown Rudnick continues to grow its restructuring practice, Sieger-Grimm’s elevation signals the firm’s commitment to diverse talent and innovative hiring practices like the OnRamp Fellowship. Her story serves as an inspiration for attorneys balancing personal commitments with professional ambitions, proving that a non-linear path can still lead to partnership.
For more on Brown Rudnick’s partnership announcements, visit BrownRudnick.com. For career advice and industry trends, see Law.com.